Floor covering trim for underfloor junction boxes

ABSTRACT

A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED FRAME MEMBERS ARE DETACHABLY CONNECTED AT THEIR ADJCENT ENDS TO PROVIDE A CLOSED TRIM FRAME. EACH MEMBER IS OF A T-SAPE CROSS SECTION, HAVING A DECORATIVE HORIZONTAL TOP WALL AND A DEPENDING SIDE WALL. A METAL SHEET OR PAN IS ENCLOSED BY THE SIDE WALL AND FACES THE TOP OF THE FRAME. IT IS DETACHABLY CONNECTABLE TO THE SIDE WALL IN PARALLEL RELATION TO THE PLANE OF THE TOP WALL AT DIFFERENT SELECTED DISTANCES FROM THE TOP WALL BY MEANS OF TONGUES ON THE SHEET RECEIVED IN SELECTED OPENINGS IN THE SIDE WALL, SO AS TO ADAPT THE FRAME TO DIFFERENT CARPET THICKNESSES. IN INSTALLED POSITION OF THE TRIM FRAME, THE SHEET IS JUXTAPOSED IN LOAD TRANSMITTING RELATION TO A JUNCTION BOX COVER.

P 20, 1971 DE FOREST D. BUTLER 3,606,064

FLOOR COVERING TRIM FOR UNDERFLOOR JUNCTION BOXES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 2. 1970 INVENTOR.

"Q! @ATTORNEY.

P 20, 1971 DE FOREST 0. BUTLER 3,606,064

FLOOR COVERING TRIM FOR UNDERFLOOR JUNCTION BOXES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2, 1970 INVENTOR. S 9M9 42am,

ATTORNEY.

p 20, 1971 DE FOREST D. BUTLER 3,606,064

FLOOR COVERING TRIM FOR UNDERFLOOR JUNCTION BOXES Filed Feb. 2, 1970 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 1 VENTOR. A W 342 ATTORNEY.

United States Patent.

US. Cl. 220-3.8 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A plurality of elongated frame members are detachably connected at their adjacent ends to provide a closed trim frame. Each member is of a T-shape cross section, having a decorative horizontal top wall and a depending side wall. A metal sheet or pan is enclosed by the side wall and faces the top of the frame. It is detachably connectable to the side wall in parallel relation to the plane of the top wall at different selected distances from the top wall by means of tongues on the sheet received in selected openings in the side wall, so as to adapt the frame to different carpet thicknesses. In installed position of the trim frame, the sheet is juxtaposed in load transmitting relation on a junction box cover.

This invention relates to trim for underfloor junction boxes, and particularly to a carpet trim therefor which can readily be adjusted to carpets or other floor coverings of different thicknesses.

As more fully disclosed in US. Letters Patent No. 3,405,834, of Butler et al., issued Oct. 15, 1968, and entitled Convertible Junction Box for Underfloor Wiring Duct, an established practice is to locate the wiring ducts and junction boxes therefor beneath the floor, and in the case of most concrete flooring, to embed the ducts and junction boxes permanently in the floor.

These ducts are arranged with the junction boxes at selected locations depending upon the use to which the floor space is to be put. The junction boxes may be of the one of two level type with open tops closed by detachable load bearing covers. In general, in the installed position, the tops of the boxes and their covers are flush with the floor surface. Provision is generally made in such boxes for installation of trim strips in surrounding relation to the cover of the box. As disclosed in the above patent, four trim strips are arranged to be assembled in different relations with respect to the box so that their upwardly exposed edges are either flush with the floor level or extend a fixed distance thereabove so that their upper edges are flush with the conventional floor tiles laid on the floor. In general, this fixed distance of the exposed top of the trim strips above the floor surface or junction box cover is of the standard height due to the fact that the conventional floor tile are of standard thickness.

The practice has grown, however, of carpeting the cement floors in oflices, the carpet being selected by the occupant. The selected carpet varies substantially in thickness, and the trims heretobefore provided are unsatisfactory for use therewith, because there is no provision for adjustment of the height at which the upper surface of the trim is disposed above the box and nothing to overlie the margins of the carpet at the box access opening.

In accordance with the present invention, a trim is provided which can be used in connection with present junction boxes and which, when so used, is readily adjustable in height to cooperate with carpet of different thicknesses, respectively, and to snugly engage the margins of the carpet surrounding the box opening, and

Tree the edge of the carpet cut-out applied on top of the box cover, in a manner so as to overlie and conceal the margins and hold the carpet firmly in place against lateral creepage and displacement.

Various specific objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description wherein reference is made to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a junction box with the carpet trim of the present invention installed, a portion of carpet being shown in connection therewith for purposes of illustration;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, with the carpet omitted;

FIG. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the trim of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 in FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawings, a junction box and connected under floor ducts, such as more fully described in the above patent, are illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, wherein the junction box, indicated generally at 1, is connected at its ends to ducts 2 and at the sides to ducts 3.

The box comprises, in general, a bottom plate 4 on which are mounted a pair of identical cast iron duct receiving headers 5, arranged one at each end of the plate and adapted to be secured firmly thereto in different spaced relations to each other endwise of the plate for receiving and clamping therebetween at the sides of the box the ducts 3. Each header has at its outer end a connecting portion 6* provided with screws 7 by which the ducts 2 can be connected to the ends of the box.

Mounted on top of the headers 5 and completing the box is an annular box top 8, having an upturned peripheral flange 9 and a central opening 10 which is inset about its periphery from the flange 9. The annular box top 8 is secured to the headers 5 by means of suitable screws 11.

A cover ring 12 is carried by the top 8 and enclosed laterally by the flange 9, and is secured in place by bolts 13. An annular gasket 14 is provided and has a side Wall coextensive with the flange 9 and an annular bottom flange underlying the peripheral margin of the cover ring, as best indicated in FIG. 3. The bottom flange of the gasket is clamped between the cover ring 12 and the annular top 8 and its side wall is juxtaposed against the interior of the flange 9. The cover ring 12 has a central opening 15 aligned with the opening 10, and has a depressed peripherally extending ledge 16 spaced below the level of the top of the ring 12 a distance such that a cover 17 can be supported thereon, or on a gasket laid thereon, with its top face flush with the top of the ring. The cover 17 fits within the ring with lateral operating clearance and in closing relation to the opening 15.

Surrounding, and in close adjacent relation to the outer limit of the ledge 16, is a peripheral trough 18 which is used as an upwardly open recess means for receiving a portion of the trim of the present invention.

The structure above described is more fully described in the above-identified patent and includes a type of cover ring with which the specific trim structure of the present invention cooperates after removing the trim strips disclosed in the patent.

The trim of the present invention comprises a frame 20 composed of frame members 21 detachably secured together at their adjacent ends by means of corner brackets 23 to form a peripherally closed frame.

The frame members 21 are identical in cross section, as illustrated in FIG. 6. Each is generally T-shape in cross section, having an upright side Wall 24 and a top frame portion or wall 25. The side and top walls are preferably integral so that the top wall is in the form of a transverse flange extending both outwardly and inwardly of the frame from the upper edge of the side wall 24.

The frame 20 is of such size that when installed on the junction box, the side wall 24, which may be peripherally continuous, is received in the upwardly open recess or trough 18 of the ring 12, thus disposing the top wall in surrounding relation to the cover 17 with the inner flange portion of the top wall 25 overhanging the margin portion of the cover 17 and the outer flange portion of the top Wall 25 overhanging a portion of the ring 12 outwardly beyond the cover 17.

As mentioned, it is desirable that the trim be so arranged that the top wall 25 can be supported at different selected distances above the plane of the cover 17. For this purpose, suitable means are provided which are themselves in load transmitting relation to the cover 17, and are connected to the side wall 24 so as to transmit any load imposed on the trim to the cover 17.

In the form illustrated, this means comprises a metal sheet or pan 26 which preferably is substantially coextensive with the cover 17 and flat so as to lie in face to face juxtaposition on the cover 17.

The side wall 24 is provided with a plurality of vertical rows of horizontally extending openings 28, these rows being spaced at convenient distances from each other peripherally of the side wall 24. The openings 28 themselves of each row are spaced vertically from each other and so that corresponding openings 28 of the rows are the same distance below the top wall 25.

In order to transmit load from the trim, the side wall 24 is connected to the sheet or pan 26 which in turn rests on the cover 17. For connecting the wall 24 to the sheet 26, the sheet is provided with a plurality of outwardly extending lugs or fingers 30, each of which is receivable in an aligned one of the openings 28 when the sheet 26 is in installed position within the frame 20.

To adjust the top wall 25 to the desired height above the cover 17 of the box, the sheet 26 is installed by inserting the lugs 30 in the proper openings 28 at the selected level and then assembling the frame members edgewise of the sheet and connecting them together by the end brackets 23. The trim thus assembled is installed on the junction box merely by aligning its peripheral wall 24 with the upwardly open trough 18 and lowering it into place until the sheet 26 rests on top of the cover 17, the trough being deep enough to accommodate the wall 24 in the lowest position of the top wall 25.

Assuming the carpet is installed on the floor, the carpet overlies the top ring 12 and cover 17. An opening is cut in the carpet by cutting along the line defined by the outer periphery of the trough 18, as indicated at 31. The severed portion of the carpet, within the limits of the cut, is then placed within the frame 20 so as to rest on the sheet 26 and have its peripheral margin underlying the inner flange portion of the top wall 25. The trim in this condition is installed by lowering the side wall 24 in the trough 18 until the sheet 26 rests on the cover 17. In this position, the outer flange portion of the wall 25 overlies the margin of the carpet defining the opening. The cut loose portion is held firmly within the frame 20 with its margin underlying the inner flange portion of the top portion 25.

Thus, the trim can be removed for access to the box cover without disturbing the part of the carpet carried thereby or the margin of the carpet about the cut, and can readily be reinstalled by dropping into place.

When the trim is installed, any weight imposed on the carpet within the frame 20 is transferred directly through the sheet 26 to the cover 17, and any weight imposed on the frame 20 itself is transferred to the cover 17 by means of the lugs 30 and sheet 26.

The exposed surface of the top wall 25 of the trim may have such decorative finish as desired.

It is apparent that the structure is adapted to various thicknesses of carpet merely by installing the sheet 26 at a proper distance from the top wall 25 of the trim. The depending side wall 24 of the trim, cooperating with the trough 18, prevents lateral shifting of the trim relative to the junction box opening.

While the trim is particularly adapted for use in connection with carpets, obviously it may be used with other types of floor coverings wherein differences in thickness of the floor covering selected present a like problem.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A trim assemblage for a junction box of an underfloor duct, comprisinga cover supporting ring adapted to be secured to the top of the box with the ring opening facing upwardly;

said ring having at its upper face a peripheral wall with an inner peripheral face facing inwardly of the ring;

a Weight supporting closure cover detachably supported on the ring and closing the opening thereof and having its outer peripheral edges inset from said inner peripheral face so as to define an upwardly open recess means in the space between said inner peripheral face and the periphery of the cover; trim frame having a top frame portion extending about the entire ring opening and side wall portions depending from the top frame portion and detachably received in said recess means; the inner periphcry of the top frame portion being spaced inwardly from the depending side wall portions and the outer periphery of the top frame portion being spaced outwardly from the depending portions; and

connecting means carried by the cover and connectable to said depending side wall portions at positions, selectively, which are at different distances, respectively, from the top frame position.

2. The structure according to claim I wherein the trim frame has a depending peripheral wall, the depending portions of the frame are portions of said peripheral wall, and the top frame portion is a flange extending at an abrupt angle to said peripheral wall.

3. The structure according to claim 2 wherein said pen'pheral wall is continuous peripherally of the frame; and the recess means are an upwardly open trough which is continuous peripherally of the ring.

4. The structure according to claim 2 wherein said dependent portions have rows of vertically spaced openings therein;

said connecting means comprises a metal sheet adapted to lie on the top of said cover in load transmitting relation thereto;

a plurality of tongues are mounted on the sheet and extend outwardly from edges of the sheet and have their outer end portions received in selected ones of the openings, respectively; and

each group of corresponding openings of the rows defines a different one of said positions.

5. The structure according to claim 4 wherein the frame is composed of a plurality of elongated members each of which can be connected to associated ones of the tongues by movement of the members laterally of the metal sheet to positions in which the tongues are in the associated openings, and the frame is peripherally closed; and connectors are detachably connected to the members and connect them to each other to form the frame.

6. A carpet trim frame comprisinga peripherally continuous top wall and a peripherally continuous side wall depending from the top wall;

said side wall having a plurality of upright rows of openings, said rows being spaced from each other peripherally of the side wall and corresponding openings of the various rows being spaced equidistantly from the top wall;

a sheet of stiff material disposed within the peripheral wall in spaced relation to the top wall and facing toward the top wall;

tongues on the sheet extending outwardly therefrom in directions edgewise of the sheet and received in those selected openings of the rows, respectively, which are equidistant from the top wall;

said frame being composed of a plurality of elongated members; and

connectors detachably connecting adjacent members to each other.

7. The structure according to claim 6 wherein said frame is polygonal, and the connectors connect adjacent members to each other at corners of the polygon, respectively.

8. The structure according claim 6 wherein each frame section is generally T-shaped in cross section,

9. The structure according to claim 8 wherein the top wall and peripheral wall of each member are integral with each other.

10. A trim assemblage for an open top underfloor duct means comprising:

cover supporting members having side walls, respectively, and secured to the top of the duct means along opposite spaced sides of the duct means, with the inner faces of said side walls defining an upwardly extending opening;

a weight supporting closure cover detachably supported on the members between said side faces and closing the upper end of said opening, and having its outer side edges inset, respectively, from said faces and defining therewith upwardly opening recess means between the respective outer side edges of the cover and said side faces of said inner walls;

a pair of trim members, each having a top wall portion and a side wall portion depending from the top wall portion;

said side wall portions of the trim members being detachably received, respectively, in said recess means;

the inner edge of the top wall portion of each trim member being spaced inwardly from its side wall portion and the outer edge of the top wall portion of each trim member being spaced outwardly from its side wall portion;

said top wall portion extending, in a direction edgewise of the cover, from a location inwardly of the recess means to a location outwardly thereof; and

connecting means carried by the cover and connectable to said side wall portions of the trim members at positions, selectively, which are at different distances from the top wall portions.

L1. The structure according to claim 10 wherein said connecting means are in load transmitting relation to said cover.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,936,092 5/1960 Johnson 220-3.4X 3,104,774 9/1963 Hudson et a1. 220-3.4X 3,405,834 10/1968 Butler et a1. a 220-34 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner I. R. GARRETT, Assistant Examiner 

